Fluid applicator bottle

ABSTRACT

A fluid applicator bottle includes an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis. The hollow body is arranged to hold a liquid therein and includes a shoulder portion, a central recessed portion, and a bottom portion. The central recessed portion includes a side wall section having an approximately triangular cross-section with a first side, a second side, and a base side. A groove extends in the central recessed portion. The groove forms a finger contact surface for contact by a tip of a user&#39;s finger during liquid application.

The present invention relates to a fluid applicator bottle, and more specifically, to a bottle adapted for gripping with a user's thumb and fingers whereby the bottle can be self-oriented during liquid application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When using sheets of Bingo paper for playing the game of Bingo, it has become common practice to record or identify a square that has been called by placing an ink mark on the square, using an ink marking device, often referred to as a “Bingo Dabber” or “Bingo Marker”. Typically, such a Bingo card marker is a hand-held cylindrical plastic bottle, filled with a suitable marking ink and having an applicator head, generally of foam material. To record a called number, the user inverts the bottle and presses the head on the appropriate square. A spot of colored ink is transferred to the square. Typically, Bingo players track and record on multiple Bingo faces, sometimes called cards, to increase the odds of winning and to increase the challenge of the game. To keep up with the speed of the game, the marking procedure must be carried out very rapidly and accurately with the user focusing all his/her attention on the cards. Thus, the ease with which the player can manipulate and orient the marking device is important.

Various fluid applicator bottles for use by persons to mark a Bingo card are commercially available. Such bottles leave something to be desired from one or more standpoints, such as economics of manufacture, ergonomics, and effectiveness of orienting in a user's hand. One applicator bottle which is sold by the assignee of the subject invention is shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. D455,782.

Although many applicators have attempted to overcome the problem of writing stress, as well as providing means by which comfort can be increased, devices heretofore available have not been supplied which are satisfactory for providing fluid applicators having a structure that can be quickly manipulated (self-oriented) and held in the user's hand at the optimum position without detracting the user's attention from the Bingo cards. The desirability of comfort and orientation is particularly important for people with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and/or other physical limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improvement for fluid applicators of the type described which overcome the above referred to difficulties and others, and is easy to manipulate, orient, and hold. More particularly in this respect, a fluid applicator bottle is provided which includes an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis. The hollow body is arranged to hold a liquid therein. The body includes a shoulder portion, a central recessed portion, and a bottom portion. The central recessed portion further includes a side wall section having an approximately triangular cross-section with a first side, a second side, and a base side. Additionally, a groove extends in the central recessed portion and forms a finger contact surface for contact by a tip of the finger during liquid application.

In another aspect of the invention, a fluid applicator bottle is provided which includes an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis wherein the hollow body is arranged to hold a liquid therein. The body includes a first end, a central recessed portion, and a second end. The central recessed portion includes a side wall section having a first side, a second side, and a base side. The central recessed portion further includes a finger gripping surface located on the base side proximal to the first end. The first side and the second side include a ridge defined therebetween wherein the finger gripping surface is adapted for gripping with a terminal end of a user's index finger, the ridge is adapted to rest in the crook of the user's hand between the thumb and index finger during liquid application.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a fluid applicator bottle is provided which includes an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis and an applicator tip at one end. The hollow body is arranged to hold a liquid therein. The body includes a shoulder portion, a central recessed portion, and a bottom portion. The central recessed portion includes a cross-section that is approximately triangular in shape with a first side, a second side, and a base side. A finger gripping surface is provided which is adjacent the shoulder portion. The finger gripping surface is adapted for gripping with a selected one of user's fingers. The finger gripping surface extends in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in the specification, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting how a fluid applicator of the present invention fits into the hand of a user;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the fluid applicator according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fluid applicator taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fluid applicator taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the fluid applicator according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a left side elevational view of the fluid applicator according to the present invention; and,

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the fluid applicator according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, FIG. 1 shows an applicator bottle 10.

The fluid applicator or bottle 10 is shown in one position in the hand of a user. The fluid applicator 10 has an applicating end or tip portion 12, which is used for filling and dispensing fluid from the fluid applicator 10. The applicating end 12 can be of any conventional type. Liquid ink can be the fluid dispensed, but it is to be appreciated that any liquid having material of a flowing viscosity at room temperature can be used.

The fluid applicator 10 includes an elongated body portion 14 having a first end or shoulder portion 16, a central recessed portion 18, and a second end or bottom portion 20. The body portion 14 forms a liquid reservoir for holding a volume of marking ink. The shoulder portion 16 and the bottom portion 20 can have a circular shape. The central recessed portion 18 can have a triangular or wedge-like shape (FIGS. 2-4). The bottom portion 20 includes a planar bottom wall 22 for standing the fluid applicator 10 on one end. The elongated body portion 14 is characterized by a longitudinal axis 24. When not in use, the applicator tip 12 may be protected by a cap (not shown). In particular, as will be described later, the fluid applicator bottle 10 is arranged to rest in the crook 26 of a user's hand 28 between the thumb 30 and index finger 32 at a lower end 17, while ends of the thumb 31, index finger 33, and middle finger(s) (not displayed) engage portions of the bottle 10 at an upper end 19. This arrangement allows the bottle 10 to be inverted and manipulated like a pencil, pen, or other writing instrument.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shoulder portion 16 can include a circular side wall 40 extending around the axis 24, and having a predetermined exterior diameter. A conical intermediate side wall 42 extends up from the circular side wall 40, and terminates at a generally planar top wall 44. The top wall 44 includes a cylindrical neck 46 about the axis 24. A helical thread 48 can extend about the neck 46 for threadedly engaging a cap. The applicator tip 12 is mounted on top of the neck 46.

The bottom portion 20 includes a cylindrical side wall 50 extending around the axis 24. It can have generally the same predetermined exterior diameter as the circular side wall 40 of the shoulder portion 16.

The central recessed portion 18 is constructed and sized to be supported at the lower end 17 within the crook 26 between the thumb 30 and index finger 32 of one hand 28 of a person holding the bottle 10 when the bottle 10 is to be inverted, e.g. held like a pencil or pen to mark a Bingo card. To that end, the central recessed portion 18 includes a side wall section 54 having a triangular periphery. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side wall section 54 includes a first side 56, a second side 58, and a base side 60. A ridge 62 is formed at an apex of the triangular cross-section 54 where the first side 56 and the second side 58 meet. This feature enables the central recessed portion 18 to be sufficiently narrow to enable it to be held very comfortably within the crook 26 of a user's hand 28, yet which enables the ink holding capacity of the bottle 10 to be sufficiently large. It is to be appreciated that the triangular periphery forms a generally isosceles triangle shape. The lengths of the first and second sides 56, 58 can be equal and greater than the length of the base side 60.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, the first side 56 and the second side 58 of the central side wall section 54 of the body 14 merge with part of the circular side wall 40 of the shoulder portion 16 at first and second upper flared surfaces 70, 72, respectively. The first upper flared surface 70 is arranged to comfortably receive the end of the thumb 31 and the second upper flared surface 72 is arranged to comfortably receive, for example, the end of an index finger of one hand 28 of a person holding the applicator bottle 10 when the bottle 10 is held for use. Additionally, the first side 56 and the second side 58 of the central side wall section 54 of the body 14 merge with the cylindrical side wall 50 of the bottom portion 20 at first and second lower flared surfaces 74, 76, respectively. The second lower flared surface 76 is arranged to comfortably rest alongside a knuckle 34 of the index finger 32 of the user's hand 28 during liquid application.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the base side 60 of the central side wall section 54 of the body 14 merges with part of the circular side wall 40 of the shoulder portion 16 at a finger gripping (contact) surface 80. The finger gripping surface 80 includes a concave groove 81 and is arranged to comfortably receive a tip of a user's index (or middle) finger during liquid application. The concave groove 81 extends across the base side 60 transverse to the longitudinal axis 24. In one position, the first upper flared surface 70 contacts the end of the thumb 31, the concave groove 81 contacts the end of the index finger 33, and the second upper flared surface 72 contacts the end of a middle finger. Simultaneously, the ridge 62 rests in the crook 26 of the user's hand 28 and the second lower flared surface 76 rests alongside the knuckle 34 of the index finger 32 during liquid application (FIG. 1).

It should be apparent from FIG. 3 that the groove 81 has a greater depth adjacent its mid-section than on either end. More particularly, the base wall 60 is somewhat convex, as is evident from FIG. 4. However, the base wall of the groove is generally flat, as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, a fairly pronounced groove 81 is provided across the base wall 60. Since the groove 81 extends across the base wall 60, a relatively large surface area is provided for the tip of the index finger of the user. Since the apex 62 is relatively pointed, the bottle 10 is “keyed” to be held such that the apex 62 is held in the crook 26 of a user's hand, with the tip of the user's index finger resting in the groove 81.

The groove 81, as best seen in FIG. 5, includes an upper edge 82 and a lower edge 83. The edges 82, 83 can be generally linear and parallel to one another. It is to be appreciated that one or both of the edges 82, 83 can be arcuate (not shown). Moreover, the groove 81 does not need to be of a constant width. It could be wider in one portion, for example at one end thereof, if so desired.

Additionally, while the groove 81 can be generally transverse to the longitudinal axis 24, it is to be appreciated that the groove 81 can be canted at a different angle relative to the longitudinal axis 24.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the base side 60 includes a dimension different from the first and second sides 56, 58. The central side wall section 54, including the finger contact surface 80, enables the bottle 10 to be oriented by the user for comfortable positioning. Comfortable positioning includes at least the position described above. However, the bottle could be held in other ways as well. For example, a user could place the tip of another finger, such as the middle finger, in the groove 81 if so desired. But, it fits very comfortably in the user's hand in the orientation described. Self-orientation of the bottle 10 is conducted by rotating the bottle 10 within the user's hand 28 and can be accomplished by feeling sides 56,58,60 and finger gripping surface 80.

The height of the applicator bottle 10 can vary. In one configuration, the bottle 10 can have a height of approximately five (5) inches measured from the applicator tip 12 to the planar bottom wall 22. The central recessed portion 18 can have a height of approximately three and one-half (3½) inches. The circular side wall 40 of the shoulder portion 16 and the cylindrical side wall 50 of the bottom portion 20 can each have a circumference of approximately four (4) inches. Other sizes are also contemplated within the scope of this invention.

The fluid applicator of this invention can be manufactured from a variety of materials. Plastic-type materials are preferred. For example, the applicator can be made of blow-molded plastic composition.

It is contemplated that the fluid applicator of this invention can have a variety of uses. For example, the applicator can be used to apply ink to any writing surface, polish to shoes, paint to a surface that is to be painted, or to apply glue to a substrate surface. As discussed herein, the applicator is used as a marking device, more particularly a device for daubing ink onto Bingo cards. However, it could have other uses as well. In order to provide more comfort to the user and reduce stress on the user's hand, the fluid applicator of this invention provides finger supports, a hand support, and a self-orienting configuration.

While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the structures and configuration of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that other embodiments, as well as modifications of the embodiment disclosed herein, can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. In this respect, it will be appreciated that the applicator bottle can be used in various kinds of applications. Likewise, it will be appreciated that an applicator bottle according to the invention can be of any number of different dimensions. These and other modifications of the embodiment shown will be obvious and suggested to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein. It is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the present invention and not as a limitation thereof. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations as fall within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. 

1. A fluid applicator bottle, comprising: an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis, said hollow body being arranged to hold a liquid therein; said body including a shoulder portion, a central recessed portion, and a bottom portion; said central recessed portion including a side wall section having an approximately triangular cross-section with a first side, a second side, and a base side; and, a groove extending in said central recessed portion, said groove forming a finger contact surface for contact by a tip of a user's finger during liquid application.
 2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said groove extends across said base side.
 3. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said groove is oriented generally transverse to said longitudinal axis.
 4. The bottle of claim 1, further including a ridge formed at an apex of said triangular cross-section where said first side and said second side meet, said ridge being adapted to rest in a crook of a user's hand during liquid application.
 5. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said triangular cross-section of said central portion generally has the shape of an isosceles triangle.
 6. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said central recessed portion further includes a first flared surface and a second flared surface, said first flared surface being adapted for gripping with a user's thumb and said second flared surface being adapted for gripping with a user's middle finger.
 7. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said bottom portion includes an approximately cylindrical side wall.
 8. The bottle of claim 1, wherein said shoulder portion includes a side wall having an approximately circular periphery.
 9. The bottle of claim 8, wherein said shoulder portion further includes a conical intermediate side wall extending away from said central recessed portion.
 10. The bottle of claim 8, wherein said intermediate side wall includes a generally planar top wall thereon; and said top wall including a neck extending therefrom.
 11. A fluid applicator bottle, comprising: an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis, said hollow body being arranged to hold a liquid therein; said body including a first end, a central recessed portion, and a second end; said central recessed portion including a side wall section having a first side, a second side, and a base side and including a finger gripping surface located on said base side proximal to said first end; said first side and said second side including a ridge defined therebetween; and, wherein said finger gripping surface is adapted for gripping with a terminal end of a user's index finger, while said ridge is adapted to rest in the crook of the user's hand between the thumb and index finger during liquid application.
 12. The bottle of claim 11, wherein said central recessed portion side wall is generally defined as an isosceles triangle.
 13. The bottle of claim 11, wherein said finger gripping surface includes a concave groove extending across said base side.
 14. The bottle of claim 13, wherein said groove is oriented generally transverse to said longitudinal axis.
 15. A fluid applicator bottle, comprising: an elongated hollow body having a longitudinal axis and an applicator tip at one end, said hollow body being arranged to hold a liquid therein; said body including a shoulder portion, a central recessed portion, and a bottom portion; said central recessed portion including a cross-section that is approximately triangular in shape with a first side, a second side, and a base side; and, a finger gripping surface located adjacent said shoulder portion, said finger-gripping surface being adapted for gripping with a selected one of user's fingers; said finger-gripping surface extending in a direction generally transverse to said longitudinal axis.
 16. The bottle of claim 15, further including a ridge formed at an apex of said first side and said second side, said ridge being adapted to rest in the crook of a user's hand between the thumb and index finger during liquid application.
 17. The bottle of claim 16, wherein said finger gripping surface extends across said base side of said central recessed portion and is adapted for gripping with a terminal end of the user's index finger.
 18. The bottle of claim 17, wherein said central recessed portion further includes a first and a second flared surface, said first flared surface being adapted for gripping with a user's thumb and said second flared surface being adapted for gripping with a user's middle finger, whereby said bottle is self oriented during liquid application.
 19. The bottle of claim 18, wherein said triangular cross-section generally has the form of an isosceles triangle. 